Jeff Kennard is out of affiliated baseball despite posting 2.83 ERA at Triple-A last season. (Courtesy of the Patriots)

leaguers have played for Sparky Lyle during the past 13 years, but only a rare few caused the Somerset Patriots’ manager to feel completely baffled.

Jeff Kennard is one.

“I have no idea why he’s here,” Lyle said. “There probably have been six or seven guys like that since I’ve been here. When they walk in, I say, “What did they (the previous organization) tell you when they released you?’ “

Kennard, who pitched to a miniscule 2.83 ERA at Triple-A for the Cincinnati Reds last season, signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Cubs, but was released near the end of major-league spring training and given the standard explanation of no available space within the organization.

Now, a few months after completing a season that warranted major-league attention, Kennard is one of the top relievers for the Patriots. He was in the bullpen Wednesday night as the Patriots visited the Long Island Ducks at Suffolk County Sports Park.

After waiting eight seasons to make his Triple-A debut, Kennard posted a disappointing 6.55 ERA in his first stint at the highest level of the minors for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2008.

Given a second chance, however, the right-hander dominated for the Reds. He enjoyed a span of 24 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run right before losing time to a fluke hamstring injury, which he suffered after slipping on a sprinkler during a pregame run.

“I threw in the playoffs and in Dominican (Republic) winter ball,” he said. “When I came back, the Reds showed interest. And then all of a sudden they said, “If you find something else, take it.’ I thought the Cubs would be a great fit because of the way (manager) Lou Piniella is with his bullpen and because they were missing a bunch of guys.”

The release from the Cubs ended an action-filled run that began when the Yankees placed Kennard on the 40-man roster for the first time before the 2007 season. He was traded in July to the Angels for veteran catcher Jose Molina.

“Basically, when you’re with the Yankees, you hope to make it or to be trade bait,” he said. “I was excited to go to a new team.”

Wherever Kennard has gone since 2005, he has faced the same question: What led to his 15-game suspension for violating minor-league baseball’s steroid policy in 2005 as a member of the Single-A Tampa Yankees?

“For four years, I was taking the same supplement, which was available at GNC (General Nutrition Center),” explained Kennard, who said the androstenedione derivative he used for quick recovery between relief appearances was added to the banned-substance list before the 2005 season. “It wasn’t steroids. I didn’t even know it was illegal. I passed every drug test for four years. But I was stupid. I learned the hard way.”

To make the best of the situation, Kennard began spreading a message.

“I’ve tried to teach younger kids that you don’t need that stuff to get by now,” he said. “You just play the game to have fun. That’s what I had to learn. Anywhere you play, it’s just a blast.”

That is how Kennard, who is 2-0 in his first game games for the Patriots, is approaching his unlikely Atlantic League stint.

“I know a lot of guys who played in this league before and I called them up,” he said. “They say I came to the right spot.”

Last time out

Josh Miller tossed a complete game, but suffered the loss as the Patriots fell, 3-2, to the Ducks. The Ducks did all their damage in the first three innings and the Patriots’ two-run rally in the eighth ended when Matt Hagen grounded out with the potential tying run in scoring position.

Next Up

Somerset’s Justin Jones (3-0, 4.26) looks to win his fourth straight start against the only five-game winner in the league — Long Island’s Randy Leek (5-1, 4.08).